SARNO WARS: The NC's Strike Back -- Lame Duck Sarno grilled on racist comments
If Lame Duck Interim General Manager Lisa "if you will" Sarno thought her boldface attack on Neighborhood Councils was going to be taken lying down, boy did she discover differently last night.In South Los Angeles NC Members packed the room of a community center to capacity not just to rail against the Sarno political hit job, but to demonstrate what good their own Neighborhood Council had accomplished.
It was at public comment when the first sign of trouble began to become apparent.
Neighborhood Council members took exception with BONC Commissioner Dianne Middleton's statement that the City "hasn't gotten much of a return on its investment in Neighborhood Councils." That sent NC Member and LANCC Senator Jim Alger off the reservation as he reminded Middleton of a litany of accomplishments from the stopped DWP increase to Sylmars highlight of Sexual Predators. His parting shot directly at Lisa Sarno proved to be an opening salvo that became almost embarrassing to watch. "Neighborhood Councils have suffered more bad press since Ms. Sarno became GM then they have since they started, I don't believe that is just a coincidence."
Sarno gave a brief presentation where she repeatedly described "fractions" on the boards. The word she was probably searching for was "factions" but she continued to repeat her word of the day no less than 6 times. This combined with her use of "if you will" provided for some humor for the evening although to her credit, she only used "if you will" 3 times in 5 minutes.
But the stunner of the evening was when BONC Commissioner Rev. Logan called Sarno to the carpet for what he described as "playing to the stereotype of race." This led to a testy exchange between Sarno, who should know better than to interrupt when she is being schooled by a Reverend, and Logan who took exception to Sarno's references to race in selected parts of her report. She never did get it and in the end looked quite pitiful attempting to defend herself. 3 other commissioners chimed in that they too shared the Reverend's concerns.
Then the fit hit the shan so to speak as NC member after NC member began to rip the report to proverbial shreds. Calling it a one sided, uninvestigated political hit piece speaker after speaker attacked the so-called report, many locating their own NC in the report.
Alger went
Many agreed with the HRC report which suggested that while there were problem in the NC system, the NC's and not DONE should be empowered to fix them.
There is sure to be more fallout from all of this but if last night was any indication, the NC's have no intention of taking the attacks any longer.
Posted by Councilman John @ 12/22/2006 08:57:00 AM
52 Comments:
Lisa Sarno-hmmmmmmmmmmmm, if you will,hmmmmmmmm.
The black neighborhood council reps should be livid at the allegations in the report where Sarno describes people by race which is irrelevant.
"The prez of an NC, an African-American"
"At a board meeting an African America female board member"
"...predominant African American board and predominant Afican American audience in which there are often Black pride/black militant types of displays in support of statements made by African Americans"...in addition Seagant of Arms are two members dressed in militant style of dress holding African tribal sticks..."
When Logan asked why she made references to "race" Sarno stated it wasn't she but the people who submitted the allegations. Brady Westwater made very interesting points. Why weren't the NC's notified that this was going to be on Public Safety Committe Agenda? Why weren't NC's advised about this report? Sarno was just as sneaky as clowncil on Prop R issue.
Typical Sarno, Typical Villaraigosa, Typical Nunez, Typical Bull Shit.
“Tell me who you hang out with, and I will tell you who you really are,” Villaraigosa told the crowd.
Hey Villar, yea tony villar,
"El que a hierro mata a hierro muere."
Sarno was handed her ass last night, first by the NC's, then by the commission.
Villar my boy,
"Arbol que crece torcido jamás su tronco endereza."
Looks bad for Mayor
LAUSD 1 MAYOR 0
NC 1 MAYOR 0
LAPD 1 MAYOR (MARROQUIN ALLY) 0
AV'S SHRINK 1 AV (MAYOR) 0
Doesn't the city charter state that NC's must be notified of an issue coming before a city committee? Isn't this the reason the NC's stormed city hall a couple of years ago on the false alarm issue? Another question is why didn't this Sarno report 1st go to the Education & Neighborhoods Committee instead of Weiss Ass and his group? I find it odd that this agenda item is thrown in with the police commissioner item that has nothing to do with NC's. Very deceiving "if you will"
06-1248 Communication from the Board of Police Commissioners relative to the Supplemental
Police Account Quarterly Report for the period of January through March 2006.
Department of Neighborhood Empowerment and other City agencies to discuss
Neighborhood Council public safety concerns.
So glad the NCs tore her apart. I sit on a council and know it's the first step in taking back our government. Thats probably why they get so much flack from people in power. Mayor Vilaragosa stated he wants them gone, and I'm sure that the developers who want to rape our city, hate having a council of vested citizens that may short circuit there goals.
It's time to band together and clean house. The crooks have run things for too long and the NCs are the first step. So put aside your petty differences LA and lets make this a great place to live. I personly don't care what someones race or color is, if they live here they are my neighbor. and we need to work together and make our city the way we want it. My Name is David Cain
the Google doesn't want to let me in with my password???
www.davidcain.us
For all of his stupid posts, that pirate captain guy called this one right when he said the other night on this blog that Sarno would need peptobismal. Fit hitting the shan is right!
Even though I don't support Lisa Sarno or her attack on the neighborhood councils the fact is she is in a terrible position. We all know its Antonio calling the shots and she's just following orders. A true leader would motivate the volunteers across the city and inspire them not go after them and attack them in the media. Many NC's have done some great things and we should start listing those on this blog.
There was a guy there from Mid City West NC who had some good points.
The NCs need more structure from DONE but that does not mean that their mission should be constrained.
Structure is ok, but it is also quite vague. The main rift is that Sarno wants to be able to remove NC members she disagrees with. It isn't uncommon for political pressure to be placed by City Council members on a DONE GM to "silence" or "deal with" an outspoken boardmember.
Structure is one thing, but absolute control is something quite different.
The race-baiting done by Sarno in that report alone is grounds to fire her.
Her grammer should make her embarrased to have signed that report.
Well Weiss-Ass... what is your next play? Your sorry ass is next as YOU are the jackass that started all of this crap.
When will you people learn?
Let's not be too mean to Lisa. She is limited in her skills and clearly got way in over her head as the GM.
I'm sure that the Mayor will find a position for her where her skills will be useful, perhaps running a juvenile detention center in Apple Valley.
It's sad anytime that someone has to leave their job being charged with being unprofessional and writing reports that promote racial stereotyping.
The city thought that by giving $50,000 to NCs and making them "certified" they could control us. Boy were they wrong, now I think there trying to do damage control. Which the NCs and the people in the neighborhood obviously are not going for. Keep the power where it belongs, with the people.
Sarno's report has exposed her true racist beliefs. It's good that she was finally called out on it.
As an observer at yesterdays meeting I can tell you this much, Westwater and Alger as chair and vice-chair of the Congress perfectly excecuted a coordinated response to the Sarno report. That is just what the LANCC should be doing, defending NC's against those like Sarno and Weiss-ass who would seek to attack volunteers.
Nice work guys.
I have heard Lisa Sarno is married to Harcopian, is that true?
Is the NC negative report posted on any web site and if so can someone post that site here. I think everyone needs to read what she wrote and then make their own decision how bad it really is or not. Like an NC rep said last night that Sarno used the race card to cause tension amongst NC's and it backfired. Too bad we don't know what was said in the public safety meeting. Did Parks say anything to Sarno about all the African American remarks in the report just like Logan did? IF you read the report it's too obvious many of the allegations seem made up. Also, Sarno's attachments (e-mails) seem to have been created.
http://www.lacityneighborhoods.com/staff/
donestaff100841931_12012006.pdf
Wow! Who is this Middleton moron? Return on investment? How much has been spent on the NCs? A few million at most - if that? The Clowncil spends that much just using the restroom. If we're to expect a return on investment from the NCs then what should we have got from the Clowncil? They were going to spend almost $3 million alone for dog food spaghetti. If a ROI is expected then the entire Clowncil should be jailed like Enron!
Sarno sounds like a true idiot and probably to a degree a victim in that she has been put in a position she has no talent to execute. I hear Starbucks is hiring.
NC's were supposed to be a tool for city council. Never realized the tool included hard working people who fight for the village.
Say what you want about NC's but the fact that some of them bought cameras in their communities to help fight crime because the clowncil waste their tax dollars on stupid things says how much they care about being part of the solution. Many have helped the less fortunate with Xmas toy drives, helping the youth with sports, had training seminars for the youth, fought against eniment domain, Harbor bought an ATV for LAPD to get over rough terrain going after drug dealers (again the damn city should have paid of it), and so much more.
Jim Alger recently argued in favor of passing his own Prop R for his Neighborhood Council which would weaken the term limit provision and to do away with the ability for stakeholders to vote for a write-in candidate. He has also refused to take any responsibility for the low turnout, 79 Stakeholders, in the last election for his Neighborhood Council.
Sarno's only been at this for a short time but Jim "The buck does not stop with me" Alger, has been at this for several years. He and NC leaders like him are the problem.
2:20pm I love how this moron attacks a community volunteer who thanks to Alger he doesn't have to pay that 8% rate hike from DWP the NC's fought for the people. It doesn't matter how long Sarno has been at this, SHE'S GETTING PAID and doesn't know what the hell she's doing. The consencus citywide is that she's been a failure at DONE.
I thought Jim Alger at one time worked as an Aide to than Senator Alarcon and was appointed to a City Commission by former Mayor Hahn. Seems to me like he is a well connected political insider. He even has his own web page Jimalger.net. How many volunteers have that kind of bio.
Shame on Alger for trying to weaken term limits in his own NC and for supporting the elimination of write-in candidates.
He is the reason DONE needs more regulatory power over NCs.
PEOPLE PEOPLE PEOPLE STOP WITH THE PERSONAL ATTACKS. Jim isn't on trial here its Sarno and her false report filled with mistakes. Stop avoiding the issue and debate intelligently. People who attack Jim like the previous posters probably have never stepped foot into a city council meeting or community meeting for that matter. Usually people like them are very sad, depressed and lonely especially around the holidays. Regardless of what you say about Jim he has done an enormous service to this city and a lot of NC reps and residents respect and support him. So stop attacking him and debate the issue.
Since when is challenging, as wrong, Alger's stances on various issues before him as a NC leader a personal attack?
Lets see some of you folks have called Sarno, fat, cabage patch, an idiot, and a whole host of other names. The attacks on her have been very personal.
How about you and other folks address Alger's failed leadership as a NC President.
"Sarno, fat, cabage patch, an idiot, and a whole host of other names" These names are nothing compared to the slanderous attacks and defamation you've lobbied against Jim.
Sarno treated constituents in CD 14 horribly while her boss was away campaigning. She disrespected Senior citizens and in fact made one cry, none of her staff followed up on constituent issues and acted as if we were beneath her. Even clowncil members wondered why Antonio would leave someone with such disdain for the community in charge. Now NC's all over the city are getting a taste of that disrespect. City hall hallways are filled with negative statement about Lisa yet everyone is terrified to say a word for fear of the wrath of Antonio. True Democracy!!!!
Good evening children. I enjoy getting shot at by anonymous morons. But the least you LAUSD dropouts could do is get your facts straight.
First of all, I have never, and will never support eliminating term limits on my or anyone elses NC. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar plain and simple.
The only thing even remotely approaching what this bafoon is talking about is a technical change on the EXECUTIVE board to have members stay on in the Executive board for their full elected term of two years instead of re-electing that eboard member every year. The only purpose is to ensure continuity of the council.
I also saw to it that the change was NOT retroactive so it applies to FUTURE board members and not myself.
As for our last election no sir, I take no responsibility for that whatsoever, nor will I. It simply is NOT my job to campaign for other people. When I am on the ballot, I campaign.
As for being "pushy" well... ok. I have been called worse things by better people. If fighting for what I believe is being ushy than so be it. If someone resigns from a position because they couldn't get their way then so be it. That says much more about their dedication than it does mine.
I don't win every battle, and I don't fight only the fights I know I can win. I definately don't quit just because I lost.
Accomplishments of the "Failed Leadership" of Jim Alger's NWNC:
1) Turned the only NC ever to be denied certification ("Northridge NC") into two separate, certified and fully functioning Neighborhood Councils ("Northridge West" and "Northridge East")
2) Organized the largest outreach event in the San Fernando Valley with an Emergency Preparedness Event that garnered over 3,000 attendees.
3) Organized over 40 NC's city-wide to defeat the proposed 18% water rate hike.
4) Organized and negotiated the DWP Memorandum of Understanding - the largest of its kind IN THE COUNTRY.
5) Organized the community, Chamber of Commerce, labor unions and NC's to successfully defeat the FIRST and ONLY "by-right" Wal mart in the United States. (This accomplishment garnered Alger and the NC national headlines)
6) Funded thousands of dollars in exercise equipment in the Limekiln hiking trail for use by stakeholders.
7) Successfully guided his council through a mass resignation by a few losers who couldn’t get enough votes to win leadership roles on the council... an event that has flat out taken out other Neighborhood Councils
8) Has taken the lead, through his position as LANCC Senator and Vice Chair, in defending NC's city-wide against the slanderous attacks from DONE GM Lisa Sarno and is so far succeeded in beating back her attempts to grab policing powers.
I could go on all night. Boy, if that is a failed leader, we need more failed leaders in NC's!
Oh, I almost forgot:
Organized a massive NC response to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina earning his NC, and all LA NC's some pretty good press.
I love how there is always some half-baked jackass who tries to tear Jim Alger down. The fact is if he wasn't so effective you wouldn't attack him.
This moron acts as if Alger is a god and controls his and everyone elses NC. What? Does the entire council just follow Jim? As President of his NC, he DOESN'T EVEN VOTE yet this asshole wants to dog him for everything his council does or doesnt do.
The thing about peop R is stupid. Alger didn't support "extending terms" at all. A previous committee voted that it was stupid to have the entire executive board replaced each year and recommended a change. This way, if someone was elected to a two year term and then elected Secretary, they would stay as Secretary for two years.
Truth comes out. Jim Alger does support extending terms to ensure "continuity". Sounds like a Prop R argument to me. He again refuses to take responsibility for failed outreach.
It is the job of all Neighborhood Councils to recruit candidates and to conduct outreach to ensure widespread community involvement.
Sarno is not the problem. People like Alger are the problem.
Sarno will be gone soon, but it appears that, if he has his way, we'll be stuck with Jim Alger for a long, long time.
Be afraid. Be very afraid...
HAHAHAHAHA Your a moron. People like Alger are good for all of us. Nothing to fear at all. We can only hope that he would decide to stay with us for a long time.
Sarno is right, Alger is wrong.
6:28 your spinning and spinning bad.
Alger has said he DOES NOT believe in extending NC terms. Prop R was extending City Council terms wrapped up in an "ethics reform" package. If those two things sound alike to you then your a jackass.
Ensuring continuity on a FUTURE executive board and not his own shows a complete selflessness the City Council could learn from. These assholes extened THEIR OWN term in office.
Also, as has been stated, Alger didn't even vote for the damn thing, it was brought forward by a committee so QUIT SPINNING to try and find a way to attack Alger.
"Alger is the problem but Sarno isn't"??? The Interim GM of a department who seeks police powers isn't a problem but a citizen volunteer is??? What planet are you from anyway or are you just one of thease jealou Alger haters who can't find reason with a map through your irrational hatred?
Instead of saying "Sarno is right Alger is wrong" how about engaging in dialouge and explaining to us your view of exactly WHAT Sarno is right about and why?
Precisely what power should be given to DONE and why would that be the ONLY available solution to a given problem?
How would giving that power to done be better then giving that power to the community?
I get the fact that you hate me. Fair enough it is yur right. Now, how about you mov beyond that to a discussion of the issue at hand or are you incapable of such a civilized discussion?
Words used by Alger and team when dealing with someone who disagrees with them:
Jackass, ass, moron, idiot, and loser.
These are words they use during their "Civilized Discussion."
This type of behavior and his failure to take responsibility for poor stakeholder participation in the Neighborhood Council that he leads are two examples of his failed leadership.
Negative, negative, negative Nellies. Why are you only attacking Alger? Flattering that you take so much time and energy trying to attack a volunteer who has done more for this city then most. He will not go away and he has tons of support from all over the city. Why don't you go to one of the LANCC meetings? Sarno knows she's in hot water. She's been heard telling people she doesn't know how much more of this she can take. Its too bad she doesn't have the guts to just tell Antonio off like most people with integrity and character have.
3:29, I disagree with your opinion about Alger but I do appreciate not being called a moron or an idiot because I disagree with you. NCs need to be reformed. Sarno is the agent charged with making that change. When ever an administrator steps in to make change, those that do not want change attack.
This is what Alger has done. NC's for the most part are not working. Outside experts from academia have stated as much. The biggest issues identified by these folks is a lack of diversity on NCs and poor outreach efforts by DONE and NCs.
Alger and other folks do not what regulations and reform. They do not wish to be held accountable for outreach. They wish to blame the staffers at DONE. One typical attack used by Alger and others is to launch personal attacks on Sarno.
Regardless of the volunteer status of NC leadership, taxpayers have a right and politicians, the Mayor, have a duty to ensure NCs perform to expections and that they are accountable to the taxpayer and their representatives.
Regarding the bulletin put out by Lisa Sarno on November 20, 2006 regarding Neighborhood Council Disruptions, I direct the reader to page 10 West Area, bullet 3.
Might Lisa Sarno address who on the Westside she is referring to? Might there be a libel suit here if Ms. Sarno named this individual, if there exists this person Ms. Sarno describes?
Is Ms. Sarno working with the LAUSD Good Ole' Boys and Girls Boys Club and might this Club be investing in Ms. Sarno's future? Peace. CARE.
In unity for accountability, Rick Selan
Math Teacher, Tutor, Pro Bono Special Education Advocate
I gave you guys an entire day to say what it was I was wrong about and instead its just more attacks.
"Stakeholder Participation" is a red herring. How many people show up to City Council meetings? Commission meetings? Tht is not an accurate measure of participation as people tend to participate when they feel personally invested in a given cause, such as the Wal mart in Northridge or Home Depot in Sunland Tujunga etc.
Are there some problems in NC's? Of course but most, if not all, can be solved BY the NC's themselves with a little help. Circumventing the democratic process is not and can not be the answer in a participitory democracy.
If you wish to join the conversation demonstrating problems and proposed solutions, I am all ears. The NC Congress is working hard on that but to paint the entire system as a failure is patently inaccurate.
5:02 PM, one of the functions of NC's is to hold our elected leaders accountable, not the other way around. NC's are designed to be independent just for that reason.
There of course needs to be some oversight, but what that oversight looks like is up for discussion. No other elected official has oversight other than the ethics commission, criminal law and the electorate. NC's should not be held to a higher standard.
Of course this all assumes you're interested in an actual discussion which it is obvious you aren't.
NCs and DONE need to be accountable to the Taxpayer and voters of the City of Los Angeles. There are stakeholders who do not even live in the City.
The best team to determine that oversight are our elected officials. Non resident stakeholders should not have more say than voters.
Given the low participation, in your case 79 voting stakeholders, NCs do not have the legitimacy to define their own fait.
Alger makes a bogus comparison when he implies it's okay for NCs to have crappy participation because not very many people show up to City Council meetings either. Community participation is the whole point for a Neighborhood Council. If an NC isn't trying to draw people out to participate, it's failing at one of its most fundamental responsibilities.
One can complain that City Councilmembers are elected by a small percentage of eligible voters, but at least the City invites EVERY registered voter to participate, sends them information, sets up polling places relatively near their homes, etc. If a Neighborhood Council is doing a comparable amount, then it has the right to make the comparison. If it's not - and many aren't - then Mr. Alger and his cronies have some homework to do.
At the BONC meeting a NC rep also pointing out that there could be another lawsuit because of the allegations on page 12 first paragraph of the Harbor Area. If anyone with a brain reads this report its blatantly obvious that unlike the lie Sarno told Rev. Logan that the allegations were sent from NC reps, its definitely re-written and the allegations are not direct quotes. Logan's furious attack on the report is that its laced with blatant racist tones and that Sarno could have re-written with more sensitivity.
Jim Alger has asked Santa for 50 additional stakeholders to participate in his next NC election.
Finally! Outreach.
Boy are you dense.
"...Alger makes a bogus comparison when he implies it's okay for NCs to have crappy participation because not very many people show up to City Council meetings either. Community participation is the whole point for a Neighborhood Council. If an NC isn't trying to draw people out to participate, it's failing at one of its most fundamental responsibilities.."
It is you sir who makes the bogus comparison. NC's by definition are comprised of a cross-section of the community that City Coucil is not. There are renters, homeowners, workers and bussiness representitives. THAT is the point of NC's... not setting the bar so high a volunteer group with 50k could never achieve your idea of sccess and then screaming they arent a success.
"... at least the City invites EVERY registered voter to participate, sends them information, sets up polling places relatively near their homes, etc. If a Neighborhood Council is doing a comparable amount, then it has the right to make the comparison..."
Yes, with the measly $50,000.oo NC's can do all that. ARE YOU FOR REAL??? The city council spends MILLIOS PER DISTRICT to create the outrach their individual campaigns combined with a uiform election day and tons of free media "outreach".
Perhaps instead of just saying "NC's suck" you could assist in fixing the problems, like supporting NC's having their elections with the municipal election.
It has now been 2 days and I have asked for a discussion on solutions, still all you are capable of is pointing and saying it's broken.
3:29 says that outside experts found that the NCs are not working. Untrue. The press made it sound this way, but if you had attended the presentation, you would have learned otherwise. Plus there are flaws in the "experts" research. Charlotte Laws addresses some of these flaws at her website www.Talking912Commission.com (it is listed as the final item under Dec 2006).
"Boy are you dense" "Civilized Discussion", make up you mind Alger, debate the issue or insult bloggers, what's it going to be? I am all for the Mayor and his appointed Rep developing a system of accountability for NCs. He is an elected representative of the citizens of Los Angeles. I have more faith in him and his staff than I have in you.
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